Chemical Engineering August 2014 - 17

Newsfront
spotlight on
lithium
A
Lithium producers are developing
process technology to supply
the anticipated growing demand
huge growth in demand for
lithium compounds is expected
when automotive
manufacturers start mass
producing hybrid, plug-in hybrid
and electric vehicles using lithiumion
batteries. In anticipation of the
expanded business, many mineralsprocessing
companies have been
developing technologies for processing
lithium from ores or brine into
battery-grade (high-purity) lithium
carbonate or lithium hydroxide.
Changing market
For many years, the majority of
lithium compounds have been
used in the production of ceramics,
glass and primary aluminum.
They have also been used in mobile
phones, computers, rechargeable
power tools, electric motors for electric
bicycles, and alloys to increase
strength-to-weight ratios in aerospace
and motorsports applications.
Lithium carbonate has also been
used in medicine for the treatment
of several ailments, including bipolar
disorder.
Today, the two biggest markets for
lithium compounds are in the manufacture
of lithium ion batteries for
electric vehicles and in energy storage
for smart grids. Market reports
predict that world lithium demand
will increase by a factor of 2.5 between
2010 and 2020. For example,
a recent report by signumBOX
(Santiago, Chile www.signumbox.
com) predicts that global lithium
demand will grow at a base rate of
6% in 2014 from 2013 rates. That
increase will be primarily due to an
increase in demand from the battery
industry, which is projected to
grow at a base rate of 11.2% in 2014
from 2013, and increase in subsequent
years.
Properties and compounds
Lithium is ideal for use in batteries
because it has the highest electric
output per unit weight of any
battery material. Lithium-ion batteries
feature high energy density,
high voltage, no memory effect, and
a flat discharge voltage. They have
a specific energy density of 100-265
Wh/kg, volumetric energy density of
250-730 Wh/L, and specific power
density of 250-340 W/kg. Nominal
cell voltage is about 3.2-3.6V.
Minerals-processing companies
usually produce lithium carbonate
(Li2CO3, of at least 99.5% purity),
or lithium hydroxide (LiOH, of
99.99% purity), which are used in
the manufacture of most lithiumion
battery cathodes.
Handheld electronics mostly use
lithium-ion batteries with lithium
cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) cathodes,
which offer high energy density, but
have a relatively short life span and
entail safety risks. Lithium iron
phosphate (LFP; LiFePO4), lithium
manganese oxide (LMO; LiMn2O4)
and lithium nickel manganese cobalt
oxide (NMC; LiNiMnCoO2)
offer lower energy density, but longer
lives and greater safety. The
trend in lithium-ion batteries is
now to use a lightweight lithium/
carbon negative electrodes and LFP
positive electrodes.
However, NMC seems to be a leading
contender for automotive applications.
Lithium nickel cobalt aluminum
oxide NCA; LiNiCoAlO2) and
lithium titanate (LTO; Li4Ti5O12)
are aimed at niche applications.
Lithium reserves
Lithium compounds are produced either
from lithium-containing brines
or from lithium-bearing minerals.
The most common brine deposits
are saline desert basins, also known
as salars. Brine deposits account for
about 66% of global lithium resources
and are found mainly in the salt flats
of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia.
Most lithium minerals originate
from lithium pegmatites - igneous
rocks formed by the crystallization
of volcanic magma that contain
the mineral spodumene (Li2O.
Al2O3
.4SiO2 - about 8% Li2O),
which is the main mineral source
for the commercial production of
lithium compounds. Known pegmatite
deposits are in Alaska, Northern
Ontario, Quebec, Ireland and
Finland, but the largest current
spodumene operation is located in
Greenbushes, 250 km south of Perth
in Western Australia.
ChemiCal engineering www.Che.Com august 2014 17
http://www.signumbox http://www.Che.Com
Chemical Engineering August 2014

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